Firefighters kept busy with out of control burns

Gold Hill, Ore. -- Firefighters did what they could to keep controlled burns under control Friday.

In Sam's Valley one neighbor watched it all from her front yard.

"I saw a lot of smoke and the neighbor lady running up and down the driveway...panicking called 911," said Carrol Varner.

Her neighbor's burn pile spread to three acres. And even came close to neighboring homes. But Varner said she didn't just sit and watch.

"We grabbed our shovels and the neighbor was here and she grabbed her shovel. Everybody started putting the fire out all the neighbors."

Earlier in the day, another controlled burn in South Medford grew to an acre and a half, quickly. Fire Fighters said in a drought and a day of spring fires is a sign of what could be a devastating wildfire season ahead.

Captain Alan Bennett had this message:

"Even if you have a permit just realize that even though we've had rains recently its very dry in the underbrush and the grass is extremely dry."